Noŋgirrŋa Marawili (born c.1939)

UNTITLED (YIDAKI), 2013

natural earth pigments on hollow log

137.0 cm height

Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Arts, Yirrkala, Northern Territory (cat. 4505C)
Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne
Private collection, Melbourne acquired from the above in 2013

This work is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from Buku–Larrnggay Mulka Arts, Yirrkala, Northern Territory which states in part: ‘Yiḏaki are didjeridus that are specific to North East Arnhem Land in Australia’s Northern Territory, where the instrument originates. The term yiḏaki is used in Yolngu (the nation of North East Arnhem Land Aboriginal people) languages as the generic name for the didjeridu. The name yiḏaki is most correctly used for instruments from this region that have been solely made and decorated by Yolngu people.

Yolngu artists carefully select naturally occurring termite hollowed tree stems, which are cut and shaped into suitable sounding instruments. They are made with certain desired acoustics that can vary dramatically between different clans, from high pitch to very low. Typical yiḏaki have small natural wooden mouthpieces around 30mm in diameter and taper out to a diameter of around 100mm at the distal end. Having a small mouthpiece means they require less air to play and produce sound easily as a result.

Traditionally, yiḏaki are painted with naturally occurring red, white, black and yellow earth pigments. In recent years acrylic paints began to be used. Both the artwork and the sound and overall style of the yiḏaki denote cultural history and law.’

This item is located at our Melbourne Gallery